Don't Just Stand There, Easter 7, May 28, 2017

Seventh Week of Easter (Year A)

Sunday, May 28, 2017

We may grieve—and rightly so—the changes and leave-takings that come with being in community. This relationship stuff is risky business. Yet Jesus’ ascension reminds us there is something deeper at work in such times, something that not only carries us through the changes but also uses them to transform us and to bless the body of Christ. In the midst of every loss and change, the presence of Christ persists, shaping his community anew and calling us to blessing and joy.

– Jan Richardson, the Painted Prayerbook

Theme: Don't Just Stand There

Reflection: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”

No wonder Jesus didn’t answer his disciples’ question directly. What could he have said in the few minutes before he was lifted up into a cloud, disappearing before their eyes?

Who knows how long his disciples stood there, staring at the sky where their Savior ascended, the way preschoolers forlornly watch lost helium balloons disappear. Wondering what this Holy Spirit, the Advocate Jesus had promised them, would look like. Hoping it would be moments, rather than months or years, before this promised Helper would show up. Trying to decide if they should wait there and watch for a while, just in case.

Transitions can be painful. Goodbyes are tough on our hearts. It’s easy to get stuck in denial, looking up, down, inside or back … anywhere but forward. I imagine the disciples speechless, filled with disbelief, their faces saying what their voices could not: “Did he just leave us again?”

Suddenly, two men in white robes stood with them: “What are you doing, guys? Are you just going to stand here? You have work to do.”

Each of today’s lessons describes a time of disbelief for God’s people. The Ascension, the Exodus, the persecution of the early Church, the Last Supper. Times that felt raw in the moment, but were thresholds, liminal times for God’s people. The Eternal acting, then deliberately distant for a time. Leaving us wondering why our loving, empowering Lord would draw back from us.

We are in the midst of Ascensiontide. It is the seventh and final Sunday of Easter, and the final echo of “Christ Is Risen – He Is Risen Indeed” sounds in worship today. Christ has ascended and soon we’ll be surprised again by the Spirit’s arrival on Pentecost.

Truth be told, never is God nearer to us than in our threshold times. Silent, perhaps. Quietly watching us take our next steps. Will we sit back and let the powers of this world – doubt, fear, evil and death – have the next move? Or do we know it’s our turn to run with joy, hope and courage, spreading this Good News of love and light everywhere God leads us?

Will we be the ones that realize the disciples’ final question should have been, “Lord, is this the time you’ve prepared us for – the time when, by your power, WE will restore the Kingdom?”

The Seventh Sunday after Easter … Let’s just call it “the Sunday of GO!”

READY? (Yes! God will restore, support, strengthen and establish you!)

SET? (Yes! Why are you still looking up at heaven? the angels asked. Get moving!)

GO!!!

Now run! … wherever God is calling you. Don’t delay – the Holy Spirit will catch up to you before you know it!

(You always are welcome to respond with your thoughts and reflections in the comments section at the bottom of this post.) 

Faith App:  Rise and Shine -- carry a bit of Jesus’ ascension with you as you rise to whatever God is calling you to do, and shine with love and light, glorifying our Lord.

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing! ELW 393

You Servants of God, ELW 825

Lord, You Give the Great Commission, ELW 579

Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds, ELW 367

Rise, O Church, like Christ Arisen, ELW 548

We Know That Christ Is Raised, ELW 449

I Come with Joy, ELW 482

God of Grace, and God of Glory, ELW 705

Same Power, Jeremy Camp

Magnify, We Are Messengers

Be Glorified, Chris Tomlin

Cast My Cares, Finding Favour

Everything Glorious, David Crowder Band

LESSONS

Acts 1:6-14 Jesus was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 Sing to God … lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds.

1Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed.

John 17:1-11 Jesus said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you.”

Summary of the Lessons: We can’t stand around, looking up into heaven, waiting. God has given us work to do in the world, work that we were suited and made to do. Ready or not, it is time to get busy. Jesus has rejoined his Father in glory. We are now the body of Christ in the world, living to glorify Jesus with our very lives and actions.

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35

L:  Christ is Risen!

C: He Is Risen Indeed!

L:  Lift God’s name on high, all you people!

C:  Those opposing the Eternal One scatter in fear.

L:  The Lord’s power drives away pretenders,

C:  But the people of God celebrate with great joy!

L:  Sing out in praise to the ruler of the heavens!

C:  The Lord is dwelling among us, and justice prevails.

L:  Orphans and widows now welcomed into families;

C:  Those in prison and poverty find freedom at last.

L:  You led Israel from captivity into the wilderness,

C:  Earthquakes and floods announcing your arrival.

L:  You showered the earth, healing what was barren; 

C:  Your gift to the people – a heritage and homeland.

L:  Sing to God – join in rich harmony, people of Earth.

C:  Praise the Majestic One who has a voice of thunder;

L:  Praise the Holy One, filled with strength and glory.

C:  Grant us power to restore your kingdom in this place.

CONFESSION

L:  Lord, we confess our self-reliance when things go well;

C:  We fail to stay in prayer, and take credit for success;

L:  But blame you quickly for our pain and misfortune.

C:  Let God rise up, as we humble ourselves to you.

L:  Lord, we admit our challenges feel far more important,

C:  Than protecting God’s homeless and helpless ones;

L:  Looking away is much easier than getting involved.

C:  Let Jesus rise up, and may our love make us one.

L:  Lord, we confess we keep our eyes fixed on heaven,

C:  Our hopes pinned on your promise of everlasting life;

L:  Ignoring our call to share your kingdom with all people.

C:  Let the Spirit rise in us, so our lives bring you glory.

(Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … you’ve given us the power and strength to carry on our Lord’s work. But we’re really good at looking inward and upward, instead of outward to love all your people as you loved them. Help us to stay alert to the ways your Spirit is calling us to continue the work of Jesus the Christ: loving, teaching and caring for your people. Make us one with each other, healing our divisions, so we can work together to glorify you.

Here is Good News: Today’s readings are full of promises. Listen to just one of them: the God of all grace will restore, support, strengthen and establish you. God will prepare you and give you what you need for the work you are called to do. Cast all your anxieties on the Eternal One, who cares for you and gives you what you need. You are forgiven and lifted up, released for the good work God has called you to do in the body of Christ.

In the name …

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C:  Empowering God … we thank you for revealing yourself to us, equipping us and entrusting us to continue your work in this world. You’ve provided your people with different gifts to support, strengthen, establish and restore your Church in this place and to the ends of the earth. Help us to be one body, united in the name of Jesus the Christ, so our service and love for all people glorifies you.  Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the unity in this meal, this body of Christ joined together at this table to be fed and reconciled to each other and you.  Send us now from this place, overflowing with your glory, so we will reflect you in acts of mercy, love and justice, in our community and to the ends of the earth.  Amen. 

SENDING

L:  One more time: Christ is Risen!

C:  He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

L:  We are Christ’s body in the world –

C:  Revealing God’s love everywhere we go!

L: Go now, continuing Jesus’ work, to love and to serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God!

First Reading Acts 1:6-14 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The disciples spent 40 days of preparation after the resurrection, choosing another apostle, hearing more wisdom, and joining into one body ready to spread the Good News. Jesus had told them he could remain only for a little while.

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ⁹ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. ¹¹ They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³ When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Second Reading 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The early Church, throughout the Roman Empire and beyond, had years of persecution from the local established traditions – including Jews, pagans, polytheists and others. The writer of 1 Peter encouraged them to endure.

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. ¹⁰ And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel John 17:1-11 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Parts of the High Priestly Prayer in John 17 are read on the final Sunday of Easter in three consecutive years. In a section not read this year, Jesus prays not just for these disciples, but also for future believers, including us!

17 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, ² since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴ I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. ⁵ So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

⁶ “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; ⁸ for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹ I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. ¹⁰ All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. ¹¹ And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.